Results 1,241-1,260 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department has made payments in the sum of €28,369 on aerial surveillance of turf cutting on raised bog Special Areas of Conservation in the period in question. Invoices in respect of a further €9,279 were received in my Department in the last few days, and are being processed at present. It should be remembered that Ireland faces daily fines of up to €25,000 per...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware my Department was established on 2nd June 2011. The requested totals in respect of the period 2nd June - 31st December 2011 and for the full year of 2012 are set out in the table below. The requested averages have been calculated and are shown for the full year of 2012 but have not been calculated for the June – December 2011 period, as that is not a full...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Agencies Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no regulators accountable to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Agencies Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together. There are no semi-State organisations funded from my Department's Vote Group and nor have any new semi-State organisations been established. A list of all bodies which are funded from my Department's Vote Group can be found on my Department's web-site by accessing the following link: .

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments (12 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: As outlined in my replies to previous questions from the Deputy on this matter, the individuals referred to in the Deputy's Question sold their interest in land in a raised bog special area of conservation under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, administered by my Department. An incentive bonus of €5,400, available under the scheme, was also paid to the applicants at the time of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Reports (12 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established on 2 June, 2011 following substantial Departmental configurations. Shortly thereafter, all areas of my Department’s expenditure were subject to a root and branch analysis as part of a Comprehensive Expenditure Review. There followed a consultation process culminating in the approval by...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Natural Heritage Areas (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department provides funding to the Heritage Council for the operation of the National Biodiversity Data Centre. My Department is one of the main providers of biodiversity data to the centre. My Department uses distribution data collated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in reports to the EU on the status of species protected under EU Directives. It works with the Centre and experts...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Centres Expenditure (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Most of the important bird breeding colonies are protected as Special Protection Areas under the EU Birds Directive, and a great many are difficult to access. Nesting birds are strictly protected under the Wildlife Acts and my Department is active in enforcing the Acts. I welcome the contribution of voluntary organisations which provide codes of conduct for their members and the public in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland Feasibility Study (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Waterways Ireland Corporate Plan for 2011-2013, which has been approved by the North South Ministerial Council, plans for the completion of the feasibility study on the extension of the Longford Branch of the Royal Canal in December 2013, I am informed by Waterways Ireland that this study is presently on target.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies Code of Conduct (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that the proposed sale of shares in the company referred to by the Deputy was approved by the board of Údarás on the 1st of March 2013 on the basis that the proposed sale met the criteria laid down by Údarás. One of those criteria was that the supply of raw material to the indigenous Irish customer base would be assured and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Museum Projects (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Since the National Museum of Ireland became an autonomous statutory body under the provisions of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997, the Board of the Museum is statutorily responsible for all operational matters and I, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, do not have a statutory function in respect of such matters.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012 provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including them on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Wild mink are not protected species under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 and they can be controlled by farmers, landowners and others. A study commissioned by my Department, and published in 2009, estimated the population of wild mink in the State could reach a total of between 20,500 and 33,500 individuals, and identified ground-nesting birds as the species most vulnerable to mink...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Performing Arts (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department does not provide grants to students or performing arts practitioners. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the State. As Minister, I cannot intervene in the Council’s funding decisions, as it is statutorily independent in the exercise of that function under the Arts Act 2003.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 consists of a comprehensive strategy for the preservation and promotion of the Irish language. The Strategy promotes a holistic, integrated approach to the Irish language which is consistent with international best practice. The Strategy sets out nine areas for action, including education, the Gaeltacht, the family, public services, the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Some 75 raised bogs have been formally designated as Natural Heritage Areas – NHAs - under the Wildlife Acts. The Wildlife Acts provide protection to NHAs through a requirement for certain, potentially damaging activities to obtain Ministerial consent before being undertaken. Turf-cutting, drainage works and afforestation are typically listed as activities that require such consent. ...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Projects Funding (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy can appreciate fiscal support for the heritage sector is a matter of competing priorities in these challenging times. Funding allocated to my Department for heritage programmes is fully committed for 2013. I am advised that the booklet was originally published by Maynooth local history group in 2000 with funding from a programme then operated by the Department of Agriculture...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Projects Funding (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: Although welcoming further commemorations that might contribute towards an informed appreciation this historic figure's very significant contribution to the independence movement and the Irish State, this particular proposal appears primarily to be a commercial venture for which I am unable to provide financial support.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (11 Jun 2013)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department has responsibility for the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, both of which have been fully transposed into Irish law through the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and the Planning and Development Acts. There are no outstanding transposition deadlines for which my Department is responsible. By way of implementation of these...